Carpet sweeper



Aug. 27, 1935. l' C. CRANON v 2,012,658

GARPET SWEEPEH Filed Oct. lO, 1952 APatented Aug; 27, 1935 IsraeljC. Cranon, Los ngeles; Calif. K

Y i i.. "It: 1pplication0ctoben10,

1932, seria; ivo 36,976 5 v i' f4 claims@ (C115-41') Mylinventionrelates to carpet-sweepers par.-

ticularly lof the. hand driven. type and: has for! its principallobj eots, to Vgenerally improve upon. and

simplify; the .construction of .the existing forms "of Acarpetnswe'epersrto provideV anv improved 4form of handlethat'maybe conveniently and Vcomfortablyfengaged by therhand-,during the manipulationV ofthe sweeper., further, .to .pivot vthe handle 'carrying bailto the body ofthe sweeper Asoasto prevent. i the .rear y portion of l the body. l of n the sweeper from swinging downwardly 'when' 'said body iis lifted from" the floor and. further, to mount .the body .of the sweeperuponftwo pairs of rollers, the rear pair having fixed-axes and-the vfront pair having lvertically. yand horizontally moving axes, so that during operationA-` of the sweeper the front'portion .thereof ispermitted to j move downwardly, thereby permitting thelrotary brush.; to makedirect contactfwith the surface over which the1sweeperis manipulated.` t VFurther objects of my inventioniare, to'arrange between `the swinging bearingsfor the-f Vfront y wheels and the body vof thesweeper, springs that tendto resist the downwardimovement of. the for- .wardlportion of the 'sweeperv` body as a-result of manual pressure thereupon by the handle, which n springs' tend to normallyfforc'e thefront wheels intozfrictional' contact. with the ends ofthe cylindrical body of therotary brush Tof the sweeper, and further, to mount thertary' brush' so that it `has` a Y certain .degree fof. horizontal movement toward and away from the front and'backwheels of the sweeper. and.l vvthe ends Aof `'the brush body being A'supported ."by lreadily' .releasablen means whichwhen" manipulated, .enables the brushto Ybe easilyand. quickly'removedfromthe"body of Y the sweeper. L *f .A

' 'A' further lobject of myinvention'` is;l to provide a relatively:` simple, J practical-fand#efficienti construction,` wherebythe endportions ofthe rotary .brush areengaged'by spring pressedv front wheels and forcing into engagement vwithltherear'wheels thathave xedaxes; thereby producing increased friction" vandY driving engagementbetween the wheels. of the sweeper and the rotary brush.'

'Further objects"- are4 ftofprovid'e v means formounting." the wheels of thesweeper so as to yelin'li-` nate axles that extend: -lengthwisethrough' the body of the sweeper and to provide means where-V bythe bail lcarrying handle may be secured the body while in a'v'erticalposition, g Further objects' are? :to nunimize fthenumber and size of the openings vin theupper portion of the sweeperbody and to, construct"tlle'bQdY'jof the-'sweeper sothat 'it' is `symmetrical inv'form with closed rounded ends and sides.and.without 1 abrupt corners'. l

Withthe foregoing and other-objects in view, my invention consists in certain inovel` lfeatures Lofconstruction and arrangements `of 'parts that will .bether'einaften more "fully 'de'scribedV andl claimed"andfillustrated in'fthejaccompanying Y 1 Figll isadetail seetiontakenon'the line SL61 20 .of .Y ,Y N

',-pyFigflLi an enlarge w'verticalsectionJtakenronl t g Figs.: 8 and f 9 'are `.plan views'of modiedforms of'gth'eouter endlof the'handle of"the1sweeper. 25 Referring bynumerals to the accompanying drawing f which illustrates a preferred-embodimentjof invention; lll'designatesthe main body of theisweeper-that is vpreferably formed of j wood and the intermediate .upper .portionof said 3'@ .body tis. slightly. arched in .'.cross sectionfandthe sides i of saidbody 1i are Icurved .downwardly designatedbylh. l Y: "rf .Y suitably secured to the.' endsof the arched body l'Illare'verticallyjdisposed.end walls l2, preferably 35' f ofwood, and .formed inthe lowercentral portions ofv said end .wallsl arenotches or 'openingsl I3 that are'o'penatthe bottom. i, f" l Y 1 These-openings I3farefor tl 1eaccommodation n ofthe 'end portionsofa cylindricalA brush body VI4A "40 andthose .portions pf saidbrusnbpdyfthat oceup'y Y the 'notches .13. are reducedr-infdiameter relative A to` thediamet'erof thebody,` @S designated by-IIS.. Formedfintegral'fwith theQouter' endsof the 're-' ducedy portionsV |`5,"are i friction r discs 16 that are' 45? sngnuylarger in` diameter thanV the" diameterV ory thebrusnfbodym; 1 i J.-

. ""Formedvinthecentersof' the discs lvran'dfin' body*Mlarereeesseel'l.2 #ff l, y A

@Brush body Il carriesjtuftsgof'bristlesjl8;'thereby;` providingl awyIi'ndrical Vbrush which durin'gg 'operation' ofV the sweeper makes; lcontact with thel longitudinal valignment lwith theaiis ofj'brush surface over which the sweeper isi.rnar'iipulatedi4V l kThe corners `between' the lower' edges of the l1553' end walls I2 and the notches or openings I3 oocupy a lower horizontal plane than the lower side edges .of the sweeper body I and thus said lower edges gradually decline from the .lower edges of the downwardly turned side portions` |I of body I 0 toward'the sides of openings I3. Removably secured to the ends of body IIJ, .are end caps I9that are stamped or formed from sheet metal and the corners between the upperv portions of saidY end caps and v4thevverticzal end.

walls threofj are'irounded so LAelirnin'ate sharp corners and'give the entire body of the sweeper a symmetrical appearance. f-

The outervertical portions .of these end caps I9 are spaced apart from and occupy-positions?Y parallel with the end walls I2' and the wheels of the sweeper arepositioned inthe spaces li'et'ween'- said end caps and end walls'.

The rear wheelsl20 of thesweeper are provided.y on their peripheries with tires 2| of'rubb'er o"V The; vertically andy horizontally f mjjvabley vifronty wheels 22 ofA the sweeper are practicallyidentir .cal insizev andwiconstruction. witlr the .rear wheels 2 I, said kfront wheels having flat. faced tires that engage 'the perpheries; of .the discs.. |6 Zand said frontY wheels are journaled on. horizontally' dis- 'posed'.pi'ns" 23. thatlhave. their-...outer ends: seated Yinthe lower portions of short links or` arms'f24.. Y

1.-.'1he .inner ends'oithefpins 23vloccupy 'circular openings or recesses 25 that are formed .infthe f outer faces .otthefendiwalls' |f2and vthe diameters lof these openings are three .onfour timeslgreater v ,Bgidlysecured.in.anyfsuitablemanneritothe f 5.5.V

thantho. diameters'jof; the axis Apin'sl23 -.(see,Fig.

) ,.ox'vii desired. this construction; may... bere;-

VeISdy... .Le `1. .The .upper ends of the short iarmsor Vlinks :24

K are. pivotallyrconneoted to .theouter .ends .of .long' el* almSor11inks.26;which latteraprojectioward 5.0,

the.. Vertical. ,longitudinal '.centerofftheY isweeper bpdy and thefinnenendsof,-` theseglonger. links 26 are pivoted t0. pins, 21 that arevseated4 in thever'- Y tical walls of the'end caps I9V or .vice versa:.i. A

inner.. face .of the .f vertical wall; of: each .endoap Miet a pointabovetheyendoithebrushbody,

is4 one end of. a'bow. spring 28 ,that-xextends'out- Ywardly and thencer downwardly .anduthetlower end-.Qi this 'Spring ispivotally securedltojlink 24 or armh26, preferably. thelatter .as illustrated' inflig. 3 and'at a'pointfvadjacent tothe point .of

pivotal connection between .said arm and link.

s Thuseach bow spring *.yieldinglyresists-.the'up:

Y 7 that. are Sete.iia'fhrlipnerentralg PQ zo,

ward movement of the frontfwheel tofwhichiit' is Y connegted .throughv links 24..:.and 26 and. likewise theserv springs yieldingly resist, downward nuove-V ment oi the front portion of thejsweeper body;` Y +PWta1lYcQnntd-t0 pnscrfrivetsisuch115:29

the vertical walls of end caps [Sandon;V riorthereof,aretheuppenends of depen I Y 3|I.v of f. resilient .metal 'hand carried by )t y endsloiftfiese arms are pin`s3`l thatproJect portions of said pins enter the recesses I'| in the discs I6, thereby providing supports for the rotary brush. Y r- The openings 32 in the vertical walls of the end 'caps are considerably larger in diameter than drawn from the peninmg'sf'I'T, .thereby permitting the rotary brush to be readily removed from its normal position within the sweeper body.

I :The'p'arallel end portions of a bail 33 formed of a light weight metal rod or heavy wire, extend A:throi'igh'relatively short slotsY 34 that are formed ,2inrthezvinwardly.projecting portions of the end caps I 9 and these parallel end .portions are bent intermediate their ends so that'the two portions of.. .each end-nare. disposed approximately 135?. or :MOS-apart?. Thegendsoithese.bent end portions ;0f,the...bail i arepivotally g mounteduponr pins, 35

Vthatarefaseated inithezend' wa1ls I2 .atpoints -slightlyzabcve andto ,the real-.fof the notches or bail is swung.intoza' ;vertical position,v asillus'.- tratedbygfdottedlines.inFign 3, the. parallel end portionsiof saidl bailgride 'past said lugs intothe Yare;outwardlyprojectinglugs 36 .and when the forward-endsoislots vr3.4 Landi theyv are retained Detaohably secured;in,V Vany'suitable mannerto 'thehintermediate portion iof .bail 33,. is a straight handle'B'Lxpreferablyzof.,wood, and secured tozthe outer end oisaidhandle, is a. depending Vpistol gripv 38, that is manually. engaged when the sweep- Y terminates; i11;a-D -ishaped. member. 46 that may be conveniently gripped..by :the .hand during sweeping operations.

Dust andY sweepings .receptacles .II ,t preferably forrnedorsheetmetal, are .arranged between the sides, .of -.th.e `brush and.theglowerfendsof. the downwardly turned-l sideV portions gl I of. body.A |0, saidreceptaclesbeingpivotedjon pins 42 that'are Seated in.' endwalls I-2..-.2P11oj.ecting inwardlyt wardf eachother from4 .thenner Aportions ofxthese receptacles, adjacent togcneof. the end walls,- I2; are, esta@ andfpivtally .connected thereto, are upwardly. proietine .links 44. The upper. ends. ofithesalinksare lpivptfilly.c0I.1.n@te .1 to Oneendy 0i .a lever.. leegstand tallv and .secured msgid.. leverf between its pivot or fulcrunrandfthe links 4 4, is a retractile .spring 41, the=lower end ofnwhich is Vvsuitably secoregge @geeneens r12;.

thatisifulcrumed at. .46 to the adf Y l isgoiaess -through'aslot 48 that is formedin bodyll-and the corresponding endcap l!) andthe upper-end of saidv upwardly extendingL portion-off thelever is-bent laterally tofforma lshot 4horizontally ldis'- Under normal conditions spring 41"holds' lever 45v and links 44 in the Vpositions as illustrated in Fig. 4 and thus the receptacles 4I are positioned so as to close the bottom of the sweeper between the rotary brush and the lower ends of the downwardly curved side portions Il of the sweeper body. o

Under such conditions the outer portions of the bristles of the brush bear against the inner side' walls of the receptacles'and the dust and sweepings picked up by said bristles is delivered into f During operation of the sweeper, the same is moved forwardly and baokwardly over the surface that is to be swept and the downward and forward pressure applied to handle 31 causes thel forward portion of the bodyv ofthe sweeper to move downward into the position shown by dotted lines in Fig. 3 and which action is resisted by the tension of thesprings 28. K

As the sweeper moves forward, rthe front wheels 22 `will automatically tend to move rearwardly and in so doing the peripheries vof `said front wheels will engage the peripheries of the discs I6 on the ends of the brush body and said discs will be forced into frictional engagement with the peripheries of the rear wheels 20.

As a result of this frictional engagement between the wheels 20 and 22 and Itheinterposed discs I6, the brush will4 be rotated and the ends of the bristles will engage the surface over which the sweeper is moved and the dust or sweepings lpacked up by the brush ,bristles will be delivered into 'the receptacles 4 I In the operation of my improved sweeper, the greater portion of the sweeping action takes place during the forward movement impartedtoY the sweeper body, for during such forward movement the front portion of the sweeper body swings downwardly in the manner just described so as to cause the ends of the bristles in the brush to' engage the surface over which the sweeper is moved and on the rearward movement ofthe sweeper body the front wheels 22 tend to move away from the discs i6 .on the ends ofthe brush body, V.although such movement. is yieldingly resisted by the springs 28 that exert downwardk pressure upon the front wheel carrying links 26.

An especially desirable Vfeature of my improved sweeper is the mounting of the front Wheels so that the front portion of the sweeper. body Ymay move downward relative to said wheels, further,`

the mounting` ofY the front wheels on spring pressed links, whereby said front Wheels may f swing toward and away from the discs on the ends of the brush body and which discs are interposed between the swinging front wheels and the rear wheels having xed axes and further, the mounting of the rotary brush in the sweeper and which mounting permits said brush Vto have a limited degree-of horizontal movement back- 19, A f'f The-entirebod of fthe'sweeper includingthey end-caps, fis: devoid of abrupt cornersg'thereby presenting a symmetrical v appearance andi the entire housing of the sweeper isf-closed with the exception ofthe slots 34 for. the accommodation of vthe bail 33 and the relatively short slot 48 for the accommodation of the upwardly projecting end of lever 45. l

Thus it will be seen that I have providedva carpet sweeperthat is relatively simple in construcwardl 'and lforward between the front rear -Y `wh'els'and-which Amovement-is provided-for .by j A the 'swingingf resilient arms 30 .I carryingipinsl Y that project throughopenings32 inthe` en `caps i.

tion, inexpensive of manufacture and veryA ef- I fective in performing. the functitms for which it is intended.

It willbe understood that't'minor changes in 20' the size, form, and construction of theyarious parts of my improved carpet sweeper vfmay be made and substituted for those herein shown and described without departing from the spirit of the invention, the scope of which is ,setforth in the appended claims.

I claim as rnyinvention:`

1.v In a carpet sweeper,`a housingka-pairof rear wheels journaledon fixed axesfon' said housing,` apair of front wheels a trunnion forming the axis for each front wheel, a link carrying each trunniorL-a' second link pivotally connected to each first mentioned linkQsaid" second mentioned link being pivotally mounted on the housing of the sweeper, a spring arranged between 35 Y each seco-nd mentioned link and a housingA for yieldingly resisting upward swinging movement of said link, a rotary brush mounted fora limited degree of swinging movement in the center of said housing and discs on the ends of i said brush which discs are interposed between said front and rear wheels. f V

2. In a carpetv sweeper, a housing including a pair `of 'end walls, a pair of rear wheels journaled ori-fixed axes 'within saidhousing, a pair of 'pivy otally connected links arranged for swinging movement on each .endl of said housing, 'a trunv nion carried byone linkof each pair, front wheels journaled on saidtrunnions, springs arranged between said links and'the housing for yieldingly resisting Vdownward movement of the front portion of said housing and upward swinging movement of said links, the inner faces of the end walls of thehousing being provided with short vertically disposed slots into which the outer ends of said trunnions project a rotary brushfmounted for operation within said housing and discsV on the ends of said brush, which .discs are interposed between said front and rear wheels.` f

3. Inl a carpet-sweeper, a housing having an arched upper intermediate portion and rounded front and rear portions, rounded caps arranged"V on the ends of `said housing each rounded: cap

comprising Va wall and a continuous flange pro- Y jecting inwardly from the upper edge of said Wall,

which flanges throughout their lengths overlie and are secured to the ends of the sweeper housing, front and rear Wheels journaled in the ends of said housing, said front wheels being mounted for vertical and lateral swinging movementrelative to the rear Wheels, a rotary brush mounted yfor operation in the center of the housing and discs on the ends of saidbrush, which discs are". t

interposed between saidfrontand rear wheels.

4. In a carpet sweeper, akwheel supported housing, rounded caps on theendsfof said hous- 75 .4f y I misma@ the-intgrmedmtef portionsof whchgcansmr am1-..herar.-sideof said? sweeper.- bodyand -pxovided withqslotsggthe Vforward lends;ofgwif'xi'crz n cnnletedf to .Said 3121111jamdjav lug.. pro- 'sloftlminate 5unv medialilongitudjnal 4line ,dgeipf each slot immevfnfgthe/swepergbpdy-,gghavil having its-end por.- diteil dimi the' forward endthereof for cqnnectedto the; `endg-n1 rthe"sweexrelr: bodyl at 'uvxizhtzpositiongleelative to `.the sweeperhousing. 'mintsnbetweenthemedial'lqngitudinallinethenz- -ISYRAELjCfCRANON 5 tions extending thrugh said slots and pvotalkv engaging and holding the bail lin.a substantially 

